Do you care about providing access to healthy food, natural products, and sustainable practices in our area? Do you want to work in a place that supports local farmers, purveyors, producers, and suppliers? Do you have concern for the community and want to help bring support to different organizations & food initiatives in the area? Do you want to be part of an environment creating a place where everyone is welcome, safe, and respected?

At Common Ground Food Cooperative, we do all these things and more. We are here to serve the local CU area by providing nutritious groceries, house-made delights, and natural products for your body & home. We also strive to create a place for gathering & learning for our neighbors. We believe that good people and good food combined with hard work and care for community can bring great things to us all.

Join the fun! Common Ground isn't your average employer: we provide competitive wages and benefits, a great work environment, and plenty of opportunity for growth. You can make a difference here.

Common Ground offers:

• A great work environment

• 3 weeks and 3 days of paid time off per year for all employees for the first 2 years (4 weeks and 3 days after your 2 year anniversary)

• Sick pay for all employees

• A holiday paid shift for all employees

• Staff discount for you and 2 others

• Sustainable commute monthly incentive

• Retirement Simple IRA & company matching

• Medical Insurance offered to full-time employees

• Dental & Vision insurance offered to all employees

• Life Insurance for all employees (Group Term and Additional Voluntary Life)

• Opportunity for advancement

• Employee charge account

• Relaxed dress code - no uniforms

• Flexible scheduling

• Employee referral program

• Employee assistance programs

• Employees are included in Policy and Decisions

Common Ground's first and most important End is "The Co-op is the center of an inclusive and vibrant community." Everyone is welcome here. What this looks like for us regarding hiring: we do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Offers consistent, fair, and respectful customer interactions to ensure satisfied shoppers and encourage repeat customer traffic.
• Projects a helpful, approachable manner – smiling, eye contact, open posture, greeting nearby shoppers. Stops tasks to help a customer with full attention.
• Uses knowledge of body language and cues, along with talking to customers to understand and provide the desired level of personal service.
• Answers all phone calls within 3 rings.
• Understands and communicates the particulars of ownership to shoppers and staff alike.
• Looks at the sales floor from the perspective of the customer to ensure shelves are full and inviting.

COOPERATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively helps create an environment that is inclusive, safe, and respectful for everyone who works and shops at the co-op.
• Knows and promotes the cooperative principles and our Ends.
• Speaks positively and respectfully to and about coworkers, customers, local businesses, farms, and vendors.
• Operates with a sense of teamwork in daily tasks; approaches all things with solution-oriented thinking. Exhibits calmness under pressure.
• Supports customers, department, and store by being on time and ready to work at the beginning of scheduled shift. Demonstrates regular, predictable attendance.
• Works with a sense of energy and completes tasks in a timely manner.
• Understands the importance of and demonstrates excellent communication. Uses knowledge of store organization to determine what information to share with whom, both within and across departments.
• Assumes the best in people. When facing an issue, goes direct to the person involved to work together toward a solution. Does not engage in gossip.
• Promotes sustainability and reduces waste.
• Reads department and store communications.
• Attends all department and store meetings as required.
• Receives feedback and evaluations with a willingness to improve and better performance.
• Acts in a manner consistent with Common Ground’s principles, mission, and vision.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Receives all Grocery deliveries, including UNFI trucks and other deliveries as assigned, according to established department procedures.
• Signs for store deliveries that arrive during shift.
• Properly processes invoices, claims, beer vendor checks, etc.
• Checks deliveries for accuracy and condition of product. Notifies Department Managers about any discrepancies and notes on invoice.
• Unloads and organizes all Grocery, other departments’ product and direct staff with unloading as needed.
• Organizes incoming product and supplies and coordinate receiving with staff across departments.
• Processes paperwork in a timely manner according to procedure.
• Coordinates Grocery returns with Managers, ensuring prompt pickup and credit.
• Processes and tracks UNFI credits in a timely manner.
• Follows established department procedures for opening, closing, timelines and documentation.

DEPARTMENT MAINTENAINCE & SAFETY

• Understands and adheres to store emergency and safety procedures.
• Understands employee safety measures for food handling and preparation. Uses the most functional and efficient methods that meet all local and federal health codes.
• Observes good ergonomic practices.
• Uses equipment safely.
• Ensures department work areas and aisles are clean and orderly and meets all Health Department and ADA requirements.
• Maintains a good awareness of Grocery aisles, displays, and back stock inventory.
• Prepares storage areas for incoming deliveries, including shelving, cooler, freezer, loading dock and receiving area.
• Ensures dock area is safe for use, particularly in winter weather.
• Maintains receiving equipment in good working order. Informs Grocery Manager or Operations Manager about equipment issues.
• Communicates with Grocery team to facilitate efficient floor stocking; provides stocking support as available and necessary.
• Follows established department procedures, adjusts workflow as necessary for any changes communicated by the Grocery Manager.
• Regularly assesses procedures and makes recommendations for improvement to the Grocery Manager.
• Participates in inventory counts.
• Ensures all receiving and storage areas are clean, tidy, and meet applicable safety, fire and health codes; maintains a safe working environment.
• Uses all equipment properly and observes proper ergonomic practices when lifting or moving product; wears protective clothing, as necessary
• Follows store procedures and the direction of store leadership in the event of an emergency (shoplifting, accidents, evacuation).

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least one (1) year of receiving in a retail environment preferred.
• Experience with POS systems or data entry preferred.
• Familiarity with natural foods is preferred.
• Extremely strong organizational skills and spatial acuity.
• Ability to maintain focus and stay productive.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to handle multiple demands in a high traffic area.
• Calmness under pressure and maintains a good attitude during adversity.
• Ability to project an outgoing, friendly personality.
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Ability to work well with other in a cooperative environment where teamwork and constant communication is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments.
• Commitment to superior customer service and to provide the highest quality shopping experience possible.
• Availability to work a variety of shift times (ex: opening or closing).
• Availability to work a minimum of one weekend shift (Saturday or Sunday).
• Regular, predictable attendance.
• Illinois Food Handlers card and Allergen certification required.
• Displayed ability to repeatedly lift 50#, bend frequently, and stand for long periods.
• Willingness and ability to learn and grow to meet the changing requirements of the job.